Assig-noe to the



(No Model.)

J. MANNING.

WIRE CLOTH STRETGHER. No. 305,089. Patented Sept. 1 1884.

3 15- 777/ Qnnnnnnnnhhnn NITE Srarns ArnNr FFICEs JOSEPH MANNING, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLINTON WIRE CLOTH COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-CLOTH STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,089, dated September 16, 1884.

' Application filed July 2,1884. (No model.)

v To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MANNING, of Clinton, in the county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inWire- Cloth Stretchers, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is an isometrical perspective view showing my improved stretcher as used in applying the cloth to the ceiling of a room; Fig. 2, a front elevation; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Fig. 4, a side elevation showing its position in applying the cloth to the walls of the room; Fig. 5, a front elevation taken when in the position shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, an end view of the rocker-shaft and toothed bar; and Fig. 7, a front elevation of the same, the lever in the last two views being represented as broken off.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawlugs.

My invention relates to that class of wirecloth stretchers which are employed in applying wire-cloth lathing to the walls and ceilings of rooms; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective and desirable article of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation: I

In the drawings, R represents the body of the stretcher, which consists of the side rails or standards, A A, connected by the tie-rods d. Mounted in the upper ends of the standards there is a rocker-shaft, B, provided with the downwardly-projecting lever C. Projecting upwardly from said shaft there is an arm or lever, 00, carrying at its upper end the head or cross-bar D, provided with a series of teeth or studs, m. The lever and arm or lever ware arranged at different angles to the rails A, as best seen in Fig. 4, or are so disposed with respect to the shaft B that when the arm 00 is in a horizontal position the lever C will stand at an angle of about forty-five degrees to said rails. A roll, E, for containing-the wire-cloth, is disposed in the lower part of the standards A, the roll being readily inserted or detached by means of the slots r. Hinged to the upper portion of the standards A there is a frame, F, composed of the side rails, H, and tie-rod Z. Pivoted to either standard A there is a brace rod or bar, J, adapted to engage the staples or eyes t c on the rails H.

In the use of my improvement for applying wire-cloth to the ceiling of a room, the body of the stretcher is placed against the wall, as shown in Fig. 1, the free end of the hinged frame F resting on the floor and the braces J being hooked into the staples t. The roll E is then placed in its bearings in the standards A, and the end of the cloth carried up behind the rods d, over the head D, along the ceiling to the opposite side of the room, and secured at K, the end of the lever C being depressed. After the cloth has been properly arranged, as described, and the end of the web secured at K, the lever C is elevated, causing the teeth m to engage the cloth and stretch it in a manner which will be readily obvious without a more explicit description. The cloth is then stapled or secured in the vicinity of the head D and to the furring at such other points as may be necessary; and cut off preparatory to putting on another strip.

In applying the cloth to the wall of the room, the body R is laid flat on the floor, as shown in Fig. 4, the frame F being elevated and the braces J hooked into the staples or eyes 1). The strip of cloth is then carried along the floor under the ties d and upwardly to the top of the room, where its end is secured, the le ver 0 being depressed. After the end of the web is secured to the top of the wall, the lever C is elevated, causing the teeth m to engage the cloth near the floor and stretch it in substantially the same manner as described for the ceiling. After it is properly stretched, it

is secured and cut off at the floor, and also secured at such other points as may be necessary preparatory to applying another piece. The teeth of the head or bar D are inclined, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that when the lever G is depressed and the cloth is drawn forward over the head, or the head is moved back over the cloth, it will not engage it.

Instead of carrying the cloth along the floor beneath the ties (2 when applying it to the walls of the room, it may, if preferred, be taken directly over the tie-rod Z of the hinged frame F, the frame thereby assisting in supporting it until the strip is fastened and cut off near the ceiling.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is 1. In a stretcher for wire-cloth, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: abody, a frame-work hinged to the body, a brace adapted to connect the body and framework, a roller for the cloth, and a rocker-sh aft, said roller being disposed in the lower part of the body and said rocker-shaft in its upper part, and the rocker-shaft provided with a lever for oscillating or rocking it, and means whereby it may engage the wirecloth and stretch it, substantially as described.

2. In a stretcher for wire-cloth, the rockershaft 13, lever 0, arm 00, and toothed bar or head D, the arm 00 and lever G standing at dilferent angles to the body of the stretcher, substantially as set forth.

3. In a stretcher for wire-cloth, the hinged frame-work F, in combination with-the body R, provided with the brace J, said frame-work being adapted to act as a brace to the body when applying cloth to the ceiling, and to support the cloth when applying it to the walls, substantially a described.

4. The improved wire-cloth stretcher herein described, the same consisting of the standards A, tierods d, braces J, hinged rails H, tie rod Z, staples v t, rocker-shaft B, lever 0, arm 00, and head or bar D, provided with the teeth m, constructed, combined, and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

5. In a stretcher for wire-cloth, the head D, provided with the teeth at, in combination with the rocker-shaft B and means for rocking said shaft and causing said teeth to engage the cloth, substantially as described.

JOSEPH MANNING.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE A. GIBBS, EDWARD G. STEVENS. 

